Tao Seeker's Budget

[Tao Seeker]

As an introduction: I'm a 20 year old guy looking for a full time job to begin my transformation into van living. I will be suburban camping, so I will have both commercial resources, as well as some patches of woods here and there (mostly staying urban). This is a small list which I have budgeted to make sure I can at least survive in a van during the seasons of northern Illinois. This list is full of <b>examples</b>, which I looked up without much comparison, and without examining them in person. I don't plan to use these exact models if I can find something more convenient, but just needed a price to list.<br><br>Initial cost of my setup:<br>Vehicle: 2004 Used Ford Econoline Cargo Van - $7000<br>Cooking: Coleman PowerPack Propane Stove&nbsp;&nbsp; - $40<br>Food Storage: High shelf life only until I get a fridge or cooler<br>Bathroom: Public Restrooms&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - Free!<br>Water: May engineer a gravity fed system&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - Unknown<br>Internet: Wifi with solar setup for computer&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - Free!<br>Phone: Skype &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - Free!<br>Heat: Radiant Kerosene Heater&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - $200<br><b>here's the complicated part...<br></b>Electricity: 2x BP-3115J 115W Solar Panels &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - $500<br>&nbsp;&nbsp; +alternator (free)<br>Batteries: 2x PVX-2580L AGM Batteries&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - $1500<br>Inverter: Samlex 1000W Inverter&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - $500<br>Controller: <font size="2"><font size="3"><font size="2">Morningstar 30 Amp Controller&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - $200</font><br><br>Total&nbsp; -&nbsp; $9,940 - $11,000 (room for some engineering and hardware).<br><br></font></font>I have changed the charge controller thanks to some helpful advice from akrvBob and saved $300. However, I am still certain there's something costing me too much money. Maybe the inverter. I am aware of the huge price tag on those batteries, but that's because I was recommended to AGM batteries and I want to take advantage of the money I will be saving before I depart into van life and get myself the recommended equipment. Why the size of those batteries? I am bringing my desktop computer... and it has a 550watt power supply. I won't be running it all the time, but it still needs a lot of juice. That's the same reason I am using both my alternator AND solar panels.<br><br>If anybody knows if I can modify my van's AC to run off of these batteries or panels, then please enlighten me. I live in a world of winter days below 0 and summer days above 100 (occasionally) and have only properly solved the cold problem.<br><br>

 

[akrvbob]

I think a mr heater portable Buddy heater is a much better idea than a kerosene heater. I would never even consider a kerosene heater in a van. You can get the mr Buddy heater on Amazon for $80 and they work extremely well. You will also need a 20 lb propane bottle ($30) and a hose ($20) from walmart. get a T adapter (from walmart) for the bottle and another hose and you can also use it for the propane stove at the same time. Much, much cheaper than buying the little green bottles.&nbsp; I think that's too much for the inverter. I am a huge fan of Xantrex inverters. You can get their 1500 watt inverter for about $150. They have licensed the duracell brand name and are marketing them now as Duracell 1500 watt inverters on Amazon. If you want pure sine wave for some reason, they sell a 1000 watt pure sine wave for around $250 I think, also on amazon.<br><br>That is a huge amount of money for those batteries, but Concorde are super premium batteries. I am a huge fan of Trojan t105 RE 6v lead-acid batteries. They come with a 5 year warranty with 3 year full replacement. They are $145 each and you have to buy them in pairs, 220 ah per pair. <br><br>Kinda strange, I would be terrified of kerosene in the van, but i don't give a thought to lead-acid batteries in the van. <br><br>There is no practical way to run AC off of batteries. the one possibility is a very small, 500 watt window ac. That's about 60 amps an hour and you have 285 ah in one of the two batteries, so you might could run it a couple hours a day and still have juice left over for everything else. You really need a generator for AC. Bob<br>

 

[Tao Seeker]

Thanks for the references to some alternative inverters. The problem I have with the lead acid batteries isn't just the recommendation of AGM, but also that I have a terrible track record with maintaining things (could never keep pets, would forget to feed them) and with haphazard setups when it comes to safety precautions. I figured that the lack of maintenance, and the more inherent safety of AGM batteries made it worth the money. As for brands, I don't need top of the line, just reliable. I will do more comparing to find cheaper AGM batteries of the same specs.<br><br>The kerosene heater was just an idea I saw on one of the articles here. It reminded me of my friend's tiny basement heater, which is mounted to the wall and burns a flame. It's probably natural gas. The only downfall of kerosene I can think of is the fact that it doesn't vaporize like propane if it spills, it will soak into things, making a big explosive mess. I just had this idea of my friend's little heater in the van which seemed perfect in my mind. I'll check out alternative heaters, and maybe a way to route unused electricity (when batteries are charged) from my solar panels to a small space heater. I hate to waste anything, and electricity counts.<br><br>I didn't think there was a way to run AC off of batteries. It runs off the belt, so I would have to replace that with an electric motor, and the juice that pulls might be tremendous. It was a thought, though.<br><br>

 

[Nemo]

Thanks for the references to some alternative inverters. The problem I have with the lead acid batteries isn't just the recommendation of AGM, but also that I have a terrible track record with maintaining things (could never keep pets, would forget to feed them) and with haphazard setups when it comes to safety precautions. I figured that the lack of maintenance, and the more inherent safety of AGM batteries made it worth the money. As for brands, I don't need top of the line, just reliable. I will do more comparing to find cheaper AGM batteries of the same specs.<br><br>The kerosene heater was just an idea I saw on one of the articles here. It reminded me of my friend's tiny basement heater, which is mounted to the wall and burns a flame. It's probably natural gas. The only downfall of kerosene I can think of is the fact that it doesn't vaporize like propane if it spills, it will soak into things, making a big explosive mess. I just had this idea of my friend's little heater in the van which seemed perfect in my mind. I'll check out alternative heaters, and maybe a way to route unused electricity (when batteries are charged) from my solar panels to a small space heater. I hate to waste anything, and electricity counts.<br><br>I didn't think there was a way to run AC off of batteries. It runs off the belt, so I would have to replace that with an electric motor, and the juice that pulls might be tremendous. It was a thought, though.<br><br>

<br><br>Just a thought on the Battery maintenance.. I've had my trojans for a year now.. have added water once in that time.&nbsp; have checked them every few months, and I cycle them daily, so they dont take alot of time or effort to take care of <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp; unsure what you were thinking would be needed.<br><br>

 

[polecat77]

Your desktop can be run on a 300 watt inverter as long as you dont use it for anything else, but computer hardware. I had mine running for 4 yrs like that in my semi. you can even run a printer and FS monitor. If you use a LCD TV it can be used as both TV and monitor. Wally world cost $150 While there check out camping heaters that run on propane you can hook a hose to a 20# tank sitting outside. The tank hose would allow enough ventilation through a window. Hope this helps some.&nbsp;